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New satellite images obtained by CNN show that Russia could prepare another test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile, known as the "Skyfall," a controversial weapon that is designed to defeat America's defense systems.
The photos, captured Aug. 16 by commercial satellite imaging company Capella Space, offer "strong indications that Russia was preparing to test a nuclear-powered cruise missile" at a known launch site near the Arctic Circle, experts from the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies who analyzed the photos told CNN.
US officials are aware that Russia could prepare another test of what it calls the "Burevestnik" missile as part of its advanced weapons program, according to a source briefed on the matter.
This satellite image shows the possible launch site for the Skyfall cruise missile, as well as containers.
The CIA declined to comment, and the Pentagon and the Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to CNN's requests.
"Using a nuclear reactor would give the cruise missile, in principle, unlimited range to fly under and around US missile defense radars and interceptors," according to researcher Jeffrey Lewis, a weapons expert at the Middlebury Institute. , who reviewed the images.
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However, there are "substantial doubts as to whether the system can function successfully, not to mention the threat that testing of this system can pose to the environment and human health," he added.
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Those risks have led some experts to call the weapon a "flying Chernobyl," Lewis told CNN, noting that an August 2019 effort to recover a missile that had crashed into the White Sea resulted in an explosion that ended the life of five Russian technicians.
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At the time, Lewis told CNN that satellite images suggested the incident could have been related to the development of a nuclear-powered cruise missile.
Russia conducted at least one test flight of the nuclear-powered cruise missile from the same site near the Arctic Circle in November 2017. Moscow reportedly conducted multiple other tests in the following months, although none were deemed successful.
In March 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin released a video of a nuclear-powered cruise missile test, allowing researchers working with open sources, including analysts from the Middlebury Institute, to identify the location, Lewis told CNN.
Investigators have been keeping an eye on this site in recent months, and satellite images taken by commercial satellite imagery company Planet over the summer showed cargo ships visiting this location and supplies piling up in a support area, according to Lewis.
More recently, Russia issued a "notice to mariners" warning of dangerous operations between August 15 and 20 near the well-known Burevestnik test site near Pankovo in Novaya Zemlya.
A high-resolution radar image taken on August 16 showed that "Russian personnel had erected a large environmental shelter to protect the missile and crews preparing to launch from inclement weather," according to Lewis.
"This shelter was retracted, revealing a large object on the launch pad, which is a possible SSC-X-9 Skyfall launcher," he said.
"There are also a significant number of objects next to the launch pad that are likely to be vehicles and shipping containers. None of these signatures were present the last time optical images were taken of the site, in June."
Russia has been modernizing its strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems to counter the US and NATO and reinforce its aspiration to be a great military power, raising fears of a new nuclear arms race, given that the US it is also preparing to modernize its nuclear arsenal.
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While Moscow and Russia renewed the New START Treaty in February, shortly after President Joe Biden took office, the US has withdrawn from two historic arms control treaties with Russia, the Nuclear Forces Treaty. Intermediates in 2019, and the Open Skies Treaty in 2020.
CNN's Nicole Gaouette and Oren Liebermann contributed to this report.
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